Miles 'N' Miles will contest the Maiden/Class 1 (1880m), and, after his outstanding placing in Hobart last start, is likely to be one of the popular fancies for the event.
The 3YO was beaten a length in that 2100m race but finished almost 8 lengths ahead of the third horse. That was the second placing for Miles 'N' Miles in his nine-start career, but his trainer is confident he can open his winning account at the weekend.
"It was a good run, I'd been wanting to get him out to a mile and a quarter, but he hadn't been settling in his runs. He had been over-racing and shutting his wind off, so we just wanted to see him settle a bit better before we got him out to the trip he actually wants," Patrick Dargan said.
"He jumped a lot better in Hobart, and we had been hoping he would jump and settle midfield; he's got a big finish on him, but he's only a little horse.
"He galloped on Thursday and his gallop was as good as any he's done, I did take him down to Devonport last week and gave him a good hit out with a mate, and he seemed to handle the track quite nicely carrying me, so I do think this is a very winnable race for him."
Apprentice Catherine Van Munster has been riding Miles 'N' Miles and has done nothing wrong, but this week, Craig Newitt jumps aboard after seeking the ride.
"He rang me up before the Hobart run, and I'd already booked the apprentice, and after that last run, we had a talk, and he jumped straight on."
Dargan started his career working for Graeme McCulloch before beginning a freelance track riding career, which led to an association with outstanding mare Still A Star.
"She was a great mare; she had her little idiosyncrasies that everyone knows; she was a full-on ride, I can tell you that much."
Dargan is now working 15 horses, all under three years of age, trucking them to Longford and back each day. From limited opportunity, he has trained two winners, Fighting Styx and Ella Exceeds, both in Hobart back in 2021.
It's a big card in Devonport with nine races commencing at the early start of 11.12. My best bets are Kickpass despite its wide draw in the 1350m Maiden and My Demetra in the BM60 (1650m).
Duncan Dornauf will be trackside to host the coverage on TasracingTV.
